I didn’t really care for the design of the OnePlus TV Q1 Pro when it launched in 2019, but I called the manufacturer about the overuse of chrome and the wobbly stand. My worries turned out to be unfounded, and the Q1 Pro turned out to be great in daily use. In fact, I used it as my main living room TV for most of his two years.
So when OnePlus announced it would be launching its first Q1 series successor in three years, I was immediately intrigued. The company has continued to release TVs for the past three years, but has focused on the entry-level Y-series and mid-range U-series, and hasn’t gotten a follow-up to the Q1 Pro.
The OnePlus TV 65 Q2 Pro builds on the strengths of its predecessor, offering a QLED panel with Dolby Vision. However, as the name suggests, it comes with a larger 65-inch screen, has a new design, and makes use of an HDMI 2.1 port. The slide-out soundbar has been replaced by a fixed option, but on the plus side you get a 70W integrated soundbar tuned by Dynaudio.
Like the manufacturer’s other TV endeavors, the Q2 Pro is exclusive to India and will not launch elsewhere. So, if you’re interested in a new TV and considering the 65-inch model, here’s what you need to know about the Q2 Pro.
OnePlus TV 65 Q2 Pro: Availability
OnePlus unveiled the TV 65 Q2 Pro at a launch event held in New Delhi on February 7, 2023 and the TV is expected to go on sale in India from March 10th. It retails for 99,999 rupees ($1,208) domestically. TVs can be picked up on the OnePlus website, Amazon, and the Reliance Digital store.
TVs come with a standard 1-year warranty, and panels come with an additional 1-year warranty.
OnePlus TV 65 Q2 Pro: Design
OnePlus changed its design language with the Q2 Pro, and the TV looks sleeker as a result. The large Horizon soundbar is fixed to the bottom bar so it doesn’t slide off, but that’s okay. The brushed metal finish design gives it a very elegant look.
The TV has thin bezels on all sides, and the bass included in the box is decent enough. By using the fixed option, we were able to maximize storage and provide a larger driver.
Overall, I like the look of the Q2 Pro. It doesn’t have the same character as the Q1 Pro, but it’s definitely a sleeker design.
OnePlus TV 65 Q2 Pro: Hardware and Ports
The Q2 Pro is powered by MediaTek’s MT9617 platform and features four Cortex A73 cores along with Mali G52. You also get 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Having used many Android TVs over the years, I believe the interface needs at least 3GB of RAM for lag-free navigation. The Q2 Pro ticks all the appropriate boxes in this area.
There are three HDMI ports on the back, and while most manufacturers have been quick and loose with their HDMI 2.1 branding, look at Xiaomi. Here we have VRR, ALLM and a full-fledged HDMI 2.1 port with full 48Gbit bandwidth. What this basically means is that the Q2 Pro delivers his 4K at 120Hz without issue, making it a great choice for use with the PS5. HDMI 2.1 is available on HDMI 2 and HDMI 3 ports, with the first port reserved for eARC.
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On the connectivity side, we have Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, an Ethernet port, and two USB 2.0 ports. I would have liked to see Wi-Fi 6 here, but for the intended use case, Wi-Fi ac was fine and I didn’t see any issues streaming high bitrate 4K content over Wi-Fi. .
OnePlus TV 65 Q2 Pro: Image quality
OnePlus has adopted a 65-inch 4K QLED panel for the Q2 Pro, featuring full-array local dimming with 120 dimming zones. It reaches up to 500 nits in normal use and 1200 nits with HDR content, including Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HLG. MEMC gives you a 120Hz refresh rate and motion smoothing is enabled immediately.
There are many image modes, and the built-in digital noise reduction is a little too aggressive and affects image quality. Algorithms controlling contrast levels are also complex, and it was best to use movie mode, turn these features off, and disable motion smoothing. This is called Ultra Smooth Motion.
After turning off all extraneous stuff, the Q2 Pro was able to deliver accurate colors and I was happy to use the TV to stream Dolby Vision content on Netflix. I’ve used 6 QLED TVs and really like the technology. It offers better brightness and color than LED TVs and is more affordable than OLED.
The Q2 Pro delivers excellent contrast levels and vibrant colors, while full array local dimming makes a difference in demanding scenes. I watched a lot of football on TV, like Our Planet, Night on Earth, and old standard definition TV shows.
The Q2 Pro does a great job, especially with Dolby Vision content, and is equally reliable when streaming SDR content, offering excellent color vibrancy and minimal blooming.
This TV also holds up to gaming very well thanks to its HDMI 2.1 port and ability to hit 4K at 120Hz. No problems in this area. If you’re in the market for a TV with PS5, the connectivity and QLED panel plus screen size make it a good choice overall.
Overall, OnePlus has done a lot with the Q2 Pro. When I asked the company why they didn’t use OLED in this generation, they received a lot of positive feedback about the QLED panel in the Q1 Pro, so they decided to use the same technology this time around.
In addition, OnePlus wanted to launch the TV at Rs 100,000 as the use of OLED panels would significantly increase the cost of the TV.
OnePlus TV 65 Q2 Pro: Sound
I never use the TV’s built-in speakers, but the Q2 Pro offers a lot in this area thanks to its 70W integrated soundbar. The design of the gives you a decent amount of sound. What makes the Q2 Pro stand out is the 30W subwoofer built into the chassis (located in the back).
Onboard audio is good enough for everyday use. With high definition of low-end frequencies, Dynaudio tuning is suitable for TV shows and movies. I think you should invest in a standalone soundbar with a subwoofer, but if you don’t want to do that, you can find a lot in built-in soundbars.
Like the Q1 Pro, the soundbar can be used as a standalone Bluetooth speaker. It’s called a Bluetooth stereo, and it works really well by just pairing your phone with your TV and using the soundbar to play music.
OnePlus TV 65 Q2 Pro: Remote
I hated the Q1 Pro’s remote, so it’s nice that the Q2 Pro has a working remote. Although it is made of plastic, it has all the necessary buttons and is easy to hold and use.
One problem I have with the remote is that the Google Assistant button is next to the back button.Every time I want to go to the home screen, I accidentally press the assistant button instead of the home button underneath. Got back button. I think the layout should have been reversed, but otherwise the remote is fine.
OnePlus TV 65 Q2 Pro: Software
Q2 Pro can run Android 11-based Google TV out of the box, and all the usual streaming services can be installed out of the box. The list includes Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Hotstar, and full access to the Play Store.
I hate Google TV as much as I love Android TV, and I don’t quite understand Google’s decision to stuff its interface full of ads. It makes sense to tailor these so-called recommendations based on my viewing habits, but they don’t.
I haven’t seen Hindi or Telugu content on any Android TV device in the last 5 years, but every time I switch on the Q2 Pro, I get random recommendations for Hindi TV shows and movies I’ve never heard of. It shows. Not interested in watching.
Essentially, Google TV is a gateway for full-screen ads, and as someone with a Pi-hole that routes all traffic and keeps ads from going through your home network, I find that all the more infuriating. See, I wouldn’t be too annoyed if Google actually recommended what I usually see – British police procedures – but in my two weeks with the Q2 Pro, I’ve seen regional TV shows and I only saw ads for movies.
Anyway, I’m going to connect the Shield TV Pro to my TV and use it to stream media. For what it’s worth, the interface itself is lag-free and fluid, and I didn’t encounter any issues when streaming content on Netflix, YouTube, etc.
In addition to Google TV, OnePlus has some unique features like MultiCast 2.0, which allows you to cast the screens of up to four mobile devices to your TV simultaneously. I don’t quite see the need for this feature, but it’s there if you need it. NFC Cast is also available, making it easy to mirror content from your phone to your TV.
You can also use your phone as a gamepad when playing games on your TV. There is also a memo board function that allows you to leave messages directly on the TV. Again, I don’t see the usefulness of such functionality. Also, it wasn’t included in the out-of-the-box build.
OnePlus TV 65 Q2 Pro: Competition
There is no shortage of QLED TVs in India today. If you’re in the market for a 65-inch model, you should consider the Hisense 65U7H. The 65U7H also has a 65 inch panel and has an HDMI 2.1 port. The interface needs a lot of work, but a lot is in place when it comes to the panel itself. At £64,999 ($785), it’s much more affordable and a good alternative if you don’t mind the lack of polish.
OnePlus TV 65 Q2 Pro: Should You Buy It?
You should buy this if:
- I want a high definition 65” QLED TV
- Requires HDMI 2.1 with VRR and ALLM
- Need detailed onboard sound
Do not purchase if:
Your QLED TV needs the best value
OnePlus did everything right with the Q2 Pro. This TV has an elegant design and good picture quality, perfect if you’re looking for a 65 inch TV for gaming. Problems with Google TV aren’t limited to just this TV. When it comes to basics, there isn’t much missing here.
Considering you can find a similar panel for less, the TV isn’t really worth it, but the rest of the features make it much more appealing.
